About the Region

The Lassen region, in the far northeastern corner of California, encompasses more than a million acres within Lassen National Forest and Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is characterized as a crossroads where the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades, and the Great Basin and Modoc Plateau overlap. The topography of the region varies from level upland valleys to steep mountains and canyons.

The Lassen area is rich with lush forests and meadows, rushing mountain streams, soaring mountain vistas, tranquil lakes, seasonal wildflowers and a wide variety of wildlife. This scenic beauty is accompanied by hissing mudpots, steaming fumaroles, dormant lava dome and cinder cone volcanoes and a remnant of a stratovolcano.

Within the boundaries of the Lassen Volcanic National Park a visitor has many activities from which to choose. Activities include a scenic drive through the park, hiking up Mount Lassen to take in the view at 10,000 feet or to Bumpass Hell to experience the wonder of a thermal area, enjoying an interpretive ranger talk at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitors Center, fly fishing at Manzanita Lake, visiting the fire lookout on Mount Harkness, hiking up Cinder Cone to view the spectacular Painted Dunes, learning about the early beginnings of the park at the Loomis Museum or enjoying the rustic cabins at Drakesbad Guest Ranch, a resort listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These are just some of the many ways for you to enjoy your park visit.